Means for closing oil wells



Sept. 8, 1931. A. J. GALLAHER MEANS FOR CLOSING OIL WELLS File d May 26, 1950 My .1 W f H Patented S p 1931 UNITED STATES ANDREW J. GALLAI-IER,

:PATE

on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI MEANS FOR ctosrne OIL WELLS This invention relates to means for closing oil wells by utilizing the pressure within the wells to actuate a member controlling a closing device.

An object of the invention is to provide a plug designed and adapted to be located at the open end of an oil well, in combinat on with means actuated bythe pressure escaping from the well to rotate the plug, and means in association with the plug for moving the plug longitudinally to proper position to close the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary plug for closing an oil well,

in combination with means for connecting the plug to the well and a support through which the plug is screwed and whereby rotation of the plug will cause the plug to move to position to close the well, and means for utilizing the pressure in the well for rotating the plug and causing the cated in closing position.

Other objects will be made plainly apparent from the following description, ref erence being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the de vice in connection with the casing of an oil well preparatory for operation to position to close the well. v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation after the plug has been moved to closed position.

Fig. 3 is an inner end elevation of the closing device.

plug to become loing device.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional new of the device showing the propeller blades which rotate the device to closing position.

The plug which is used as the closing member to close the oil well casing 1 comprises a cylindrical body portion 2 having on one end a conical extension 3 and on the opposite end a cylindrical extension 4 of reduced diameter. This plug is designed and adapted to be moved to position within the oil well casing 1 to close the same and to be moved from the oil well casing in order to open the casing. The end of the conical extension ,1 is formedwith a number of twisted blades Application filed May 26,

Fig. 4 is an upper end elevation of the clos- 1930. .Serial No. 455,490.

is secured to the outer end of the stem 4. The

axial extension 8 is externally threaded and is screwed into an internally threaded hole in the outer end of said stem 4. A passage 9 through the extension 8 is in continuation of the passage 6 and is bifurcated, compris- 6 ing branches 10 through the body 7. These branches 10 extend obliquely through the body 7 and open below a'number of propeller blades 11. These propeller blades are twisted in the manner of propeller arms, as willbe readily understo od'by reference to the drawing, so that the pressure passing from the branches 10 and impinging against the inclined surfaces of said propeller blades will cause the device-to rotate, with the effect and result that said device is thereby moved to position to close and seal'the oil well casing 1.- These blades ll'are twisted in the same direction as the blades 5, so that there is a propeller at each end of the device, and these propellers cooperate to move the device to closedposition. That is,the pressure impinging against the inclined surfaces of the pro mediumfor rotating the device. v V Thestem 4 is externally threaded and screwed through a ring 12. The ring 12 has "a pair of diametrically opposite arms 13 to pellers 5'and 11 is utilizedas an actuating,

which are pivoted the upper. ends of links 14.

The lower ends of the. li by turn-buckles 15 with the upper ends of cooperating links 16. The lower ends of the links 16 are pivoted to the outer ends of arms nks 14 are connected 17 extending radially from opposite sides of a ring 18. mounted on the upper end of the i I oil'well casing 1. The arms 17 support pivots 19 on which aremounted ratchets 20. The

freeends of the ratchets 20 will slide downwardly along the outer surface of the oil well casing lypermitting the ring 18 to be moved to any desired position downwardly along said oil well casing. By engaging and biting into or against the surface of the oil well casing 1, the ratchets 20 will resist and prevent outward movement of the ring 18. Thus, these ratchets 20 will resist the pressure within the oil well and will hold the closing-device in position to close the outer end of the easing.

In use, the device is mounted approximately as shown in Fig. 1; the ring 18-being placed on and slipped downwardly along the ex; tended end of the oil well easing," the case's being placed within theend of said casing. The pressure escaping from Within "the oil well casing engages the propeller blades :5, thereby tending to rotate the device in a 'direction to cause the threaded engagement 'of the stem 4: with the ring 12 to :movethe' device to closing position. The pressure passing outwardly through the passages band 10 impinges against the underside of the propellers 11, thus causing said propellers 11 to cooperate with the propellers 5 effectively to rotate the device and cause the device to move to closing position.

I am aware that other means for utilizing the pressure to rotate the closing device may be used,- such,'for inst-anodes familiar worm and geararrangemen'ts. I contemplate such equivalentvari-ations as may be within the scope of the appended claims. I do not: re-

strict myself in any uness'ential particulars,

but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described comprising a body adapted to be moved into the open end of an oil well casing and-having a longitudinal passage therethrough, means at the outer end of said passage for utilizing the escaping pressure to rotatesai-d body; and means for moving said body longitudinally into an oil well casing when said bodyis r'otated by said pressure. I

2. A device of the character described comprising a body adapted to be moved into an oil well casing to close said casing and having a longitudinal passage therethrough, means for holding said body in connection with an oil well casing, .propeller devic'es in connection with said body in position "to be impinged by the pressure passing from said passage and thereby rotated an'd means for moving said body to position in the oil \vell casing when said body is rotated. V

3. A device of the character described comprising a threaded stem, a body infconnection with one end of said stem for movement into an oil well casing. said stem and said body having therethrough a longitudinal passage, a support in which said stem is screwed for turning movement into an oil well casing, means for securing said. support to an 011 well cas1ng, a propelle r device in connection with said bodyfor lmpin'gement pr6pe1-1eaaviasat the opposite end of said member for impingement by pressure passiiig from tlieo'il well casing to rotate said device and cause said device to be moved longitudinally by said means.

5. A device of the character described comprising a longitudinally movable member, devices iorsupporting said member in 'connection with an oil well casing, propeller ele- 4 men-ts in connection with said member adaptedto be impinged by the pressurefpassing "from the oil 'wellcasing, and means for mov ing said member longitudinally when said member is rotated 'by thepress'ure impinging against said propeller elements.

6. Adevice o'f-thecharacte'r described comprising a member having a longitudinal passage thereth'roughf, means for support-ing said member in connection 'with'an oil wellcas'ing,

a propeller. device in connection with the inner "end of said member, another propeller device in connection with the oute'r end of said member, means'for conducting pressure from the oil well casing through said device and causingfsaid pressure to impinge against the underside of the propeller device at the outer end of said member effectively to retate saidmember, and means for moving said member longitudinally into the oil well easing when said member is rotated.

7. A device of the character describedcomprisingan element for attachment to an oil well casing, meanfs for holding said element fronrmovement toward "the end ofthe oil well casing, a support pivotally connected with said element, a membermounted for r0- tary and longitudinal movements in saidsupport and having a longitudinal passagetherethrough, a body in connection with said memher for insertion 'intothe oil well casing,

means operated by the pressure passing from the oil well casing through said passage for rotating said member, and means for moving said member'longitujdinall'y through said support when 'said member is rotated.

8. A device of the character described comprising a holding element "adapted to be engaged with an oil-well casing, a support pivotally connected with said holding element, a closing-member for the oil well casing mounted for-rotary and longitudinal movements in said support means for rotating said closing member by thepressure passing from the oil well casing, and means for mov ing said member longitudinally into the oil well casing when said member is rotated as aforesaid.

9. A device of the character described comprising a holding member, means in connection with said holding member for gripping an oil well casing and preventing movements of said member longitudinally along said casing in one direction, links pivotally connected with said holding member, a support pivotally connected with said links, a closing member for the oil well casing mounted by said support for rotary and longitudinal movements and having a longitudinal passage therethrough, propeller devices in connection with the outer end of said closing member for rotating said closing member and located in position to be impinged and operated by pressure passing from said passage, and means for moving said closing member longitudinally when said closing member is rotated by said propeller devices as aforesaid.

10. A device of the character described comprising a holding member, means in connection with said holding member for gripping an oil well casing and preventing movements of said member longitudinally along said casing in one direction, links pivotally connected with said holding member, a support pivotally connected with said links, a closing member for the oil well casing mounted by said support for rotary and longitudinal movements and having a longitudinal passage therethrough, propeller devices in connection with the outer end of said closing member for rotating said closing member and v located in position to be impinged and operated by pressure passing from said passage, means for moving said closing member longitudinally when said closing member is retated by said propeller devices as aforesaid, and means in connection with the opposite end of said closing member in position to be impinged by the pressure passing from the oil well casing to cooperate with said propeller devices in rotating said closing member.

ANDREW J. GALLAHER. 

